Merchandise display assembly



Feb. 14, 1961 M. ZADEK MERCHANDISE DISPLAY ASSEMBLY Filed March 18, 1959 INVENTOR. MILTON 'ZADEK I BY United States Patent ware Corporation, Melrose Park, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 800,200

8 Claims. (Cl. 211-147) The present invention relates to merchandising devices and more particularly to an improved clip for mounting shelves on merchandise display equipment of the type especially suitable for use in retail stores and the like where it is important to display goods in an attractive manner.

The volume of sales of the various individual items sold in modern retail stores can be increased materially when each type of merchandise is displayed to its greatest advantage. The numbers of different types of items now offered in a single store is very large and special display stands, racks and shelves are required to give appropriate display room to all of the items being offered. Accordingly, modern merchandising practice has replaced the older counter-and-shelf arrangement with open or visual merchandising equipment which increases the elfective use of space. Such equipment may comprise an open display frame provided with minimum support structure and a plurality of adjustable shelves mounted on the display frame with a minimum of mounting structure.

When mounting certain types of shelves, and particularly wooden shelves and the like, on open display frames of the type described above, it has been found that the minimum mounting structure furnished heretofore has been entirely satisfactory when the shelves are fully loaded, but sometimes proves inadequate when the shelves are partially loaded since ordinarily the storekeeper, as merchandise is sold, moves the remaining merchandise toward the forward edge of the shelf away fram the display frame and the support for the shelf, thereby concentrating the weight of the goods on the forward edge. This, of course, tends to tip the forward or outer edge of the shelf downwardly and thus to disturb the display.

It further is desirable when mounting Wooden and like shelves upon open display frames that the shelf be simply placed upon the support therefor with no nails or screws or similar fasteners passing through the shelf, so that the shelf may be readily removed and used again without any marring of the surface or the finish thereof. It will also be understood that it is desirable that the shelf mounting means be as inexpensive as possible, but yet commensurate with the requirements of strength and good appearance.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide, in merchandise display equipment and assemblies, an improved structure for mounting shelves on open display frames, and particularly an inexpensive, improved mounting structure for holding wooden and like shelves on such open display frames.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip which can be readily assembled with existing merchandise display equipment fixedly to position the edge of the shelf disposed toward the display frame with respect to the display frame, whereby to prevent inadvertent downward tipping of the outer or forward edge of the display shelf even through the forward edge of the shelf extends well forwardly of the support structure therefor.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved clip for holding the rear edges of shelves in a fixed position relative to a display frame, the clip being particularly adapted and arranged to grip and to hold wooden and like shelves.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a display clip of the type set forth which is particularly adapted to be utilized with display frames having vertically arranged slots therein to receive shelf mounting structures, the clip including means fixedly to position the clip with respect to the slotted frame by engagement in a slot of the frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting structure to mount a shelf on an open display frame provided with slots therein, the mounting structure permitting mounting of the shelf without the use of screws or other fasteners, the shelf merely resting upon the support structure therefore, with the support structure including means to hold the edge of the shelf disposed toward the display frame downwardly with respect to the display frame when loads are placed on the outer edge of the shelf.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, taken with the accompanying drawing, wherein;

Figure 1 is a prespective view of the front side of a merchandise display assembly including a display frame and a plurality of shelves mounted thereon, the shelves being secured at the rear edges thereof to the display frame by the mounting structure of the present invention, including shelf clips interconnecting the adjacent edge of each shelf and the display frame;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view as seen from the rear of one preferred embodiment of a shelf clip made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale in vertical section, with certain portions broken away, of the interconnection between the display frame, the shelf support structure and the shelf, substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a shelf clip useful in the present invention, as viewed from the rear; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section similar to Fig. 3, showing the shelf clip of Fig. 4 in combination with the open display frame and a wooden shelf.

Referring to Fig. l, the'particular merchandise display assembly there illustrated is generally designated by the numeral 10 and comprises a pair of upright supports 12 arranged at opposite ends of the assembly 10 and adapted to support the assembly in an upright position upon a floor or the like. Each of the support assemblies 12 is substantially of inverted V-shape and includes a pair of upwardly converging legs 14 which are joined at an apex 16. The supports 12 are interconnected by, and in turn support in a vertical position, an open rectangular display frame generally designated by the numeral 18. This display frame 18 includes a pair of vertically positioned standards 20 interconnected by a pair of horizontal frame members 22, the standards 20 and the frame members 22 in the form shown, being substantially square in cross section and hollow. The support assemblies 12 are joined at 23 to the display frame 18 by a plurality of suitable fasteners (not shown) which may pass through the apex 16 and unite with the adjacent vertical standard 20. With this construction, the legs 14 extend'downwardly from the point of connection with the display frame 18 whereby to support the display frame 18 in a generally vertical and upstanding position.

Each of the standards 20 has a pair of faces 24 which are disposed parallel to the plane of the display frame 18 and which face outwardly therefrom. Each of the faces 24 is, in turn, provided with two parallel rows of slots or openings 26 formed therein, the slots 26 being elongated and extending vertically with corresponding slots of the adjacent rows being in horizontal alignment. The details of construction of the slots 26 may best be seen from Fig. 3 of the drawings, and the general arrangement of the slots on the standards 20 can be best seen in Fig. l. V

A plurality of wooden shelves 28 is provided for support upon the display frame 18, three of the shelves 28 in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The shelf clip 50 is adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the bracket body 34 to be supported thereby against the associated standard and includes a pair of spaced-apart flanges which engage and resiliently grip the upper and lower surfaces of a shelf 28 at the rear edge thereof. More specifically, the clip 50 includes a lower flange 52 and a shorter upper flange 54 which are connected by a substantially rectangular body 56. Preferably, the clip 50 is made of metal that is somewhat resilient or plastic whereby the flanges 52 and 54, and particularly the flange 54, can be flexed with respect to the body 56. Furthermore, the normal distance between the outerend 58 of the flange 54 and the being shown in operative display position in Fig. l of the drawing. Each of the shelves 28' is substantially rectangular in plan view and is finished smooth on the top surface thereof and around the edges. The bottom of each shelf 28, in the particular form shown, is provided with a pair of recesses 30, one of the recesses being disposed adjacent to one of the forward corners of the shelf 28 and the other opening being similarly positioned with respect to the other forward corner of the shelf. As an alternate construction the recesses 30 may, in fact, comprise a long slot formed on the underside of the shelf and extending along its entire length. i

A pair of brackets, generally designated by the numeral 32, are provided to support each shelf 28 in operative position, means being provided on one end of each bracket 32 to engage one of the vertical standards 20 and means being provided on the other end of each bracket to engage a shelf 28 adjacent the openings 30 or the slot provided therein. More particularly, the bracket 32 may include a generally triangular body 34 formed of sheet metal with an embossment 36 provided along the lower or hypotenuse edge thereof to rigidity the sheet metal body 34. The end of the bracket 32 which is adapted to engage a standard 20 is provided with a pair of spacedapart hooks or cars 38 that are adapted to pass through a pair of adjacent slots 26, each ear including a portion extending downwardly whereby to hold the bracket 32 on the standard 20. Means are provided to hold the bracket 32 ina position substantially perpendicular to the standard face 24, this means being in the form of a pair of brace portions 40 and 42 struck from the rear portion of the body 34 in opposite directions, whereby to engage the associated face 24 on opposite sides of the body 34. The contact of the brace portions 40 and 42 with the face 24 of the standard prevents the bracket 32 from wobbling laterally even when placed under load.

The forward end of the body 34 of. each bracket 32 is provided with an upwardly directed hook-shaped projection 44 which is received in the recess 30 in the shelf 28. The receipt of the projection 44 in the recess 30 prevents both forward and lateral movement of the shelf 28 upon the brackets 32 when the recesses are separate and of short length, and prevents forward movement of the shelf when the recess 30 is a longitudinally extending slot as described above.

. It will be appreciated that the forward portion of each shelf 28 may, and in many cases will, extend well forwardly of the forward end of the brackets 32 supporting the shelf, it being understood that relatively narrow or shallow shelves have been shown in the present drawing merely for convenience of illustration.

When a'shelf 28 is simply supported upon a pair of brackets 32,.a heavy load disposed on the forward or outer edge of the shelf 28, and particularly forwardly of the forward ends of the brackets 32, will tend to tip the forward edge of the shelf downwardly about the bracket projections 44 and thus tend to raise the rear edge of the shelf 28, Le, the edge of the shelf 28 disposed adjacent the frame 18. In order to'prevent such tilting movement of the shelf 28, the shelf clip of the present invention has been provided, one preferred form of the clip being generally designated by the numeral. 50

nearest point on the flange 52 is preferably slightly less than the thickness of the shelf 28 to be associated therewith, whereby the flanges 52 and 54 are adapted resiliently to grip an associated shelf therebetween.

In order to prevent relative vertical movement of the clip 50 with respect to the bracket 32 and the standard 20, a substantially rectangular projection 60 is struck from thebody 56 of the clip and extends from the body 56 in a direction opposite the flanges 52 and 54 and, likewise, in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the flange 52 and perpendicular to the plane of the body 56.

The projection 60 is adapted to engage in the same slot 26 which receives the upper hook 38 of the associated bracket 32, the upper surface of the projection 60 engaging the material of the standard 20 defining the upper edge of the associated slot 26, all as is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. When the clip 50 is in position upon a bracket 32 with the projection 60 thereof extending through an associated slot 26 in the standard 20, a shelf has the rear thereof resiliently held between the flanges 52 and 54 and cannot be tilted or tipped by placing large loads on the forward edge thereof. Any tendency for the shelf 28 to be tipped by pivoting about the projections 44 of the support brackets 32, whereby to raise the rear of the shelf 28 upwardly away from the bracket 32, is positively counteracted by the clip 50 and particularly the engagement of the projection 60 thereof with the standard 20. Accordingly, there can be no inadvertent tipping movement of the shelf 28, and the shelf is firmly held in the desired position, both as to horizontal and vertical movement, by the clips 50 in cooperation with the brackets 32 and the projections 44 thereof. This restraining action on each shelf 28, it will be seen, is achieved without the use of any fasteners pasing into the material of the shelf and Without marring the surface or the finish thereof. At the same time, it will be observed that the clip 50 also serves to prevent inadvertent lifting or displacement of the bracket 32 with respect to the upright 20. As best seen in Fig. 3, the lower surface of the lower flange 52 of the clip engages or bears upon the upper edge or surface of the bracket 32, while the rearwardly directed projection or tang 60 of the clip resides in the opening 26 above the position within that opening occupied by the uppermost hook or ear 38 of the bracket. Thus, the rearwardly directed projection or tang 60 of the clip 50 renders it impossible for the bracket 32 to be inadvertently lifted out of latching engagement with the lower edges of the openings 26 while the clip 50 is in place. Indeed, the only way in which a bracket 32 can' be removed in the present assembly is first to lift the forward portion of the shelf out of engagement with the projections 44 at the forward ends of the brackets 32, remove the shelf and the clip 50, and then lift the bracket 32 to disengage its hook portions or cars 38 from engagement with the lower edges of the openings 26. The brackets 50, therefore, not only serve to retain the rear edge of the shelf in place but they also lock the brackets 32 in place.

In another preferred form of the shelf clip, the rearwardly extending projection, instead of having the major surfaces thereof disposed in planes parallel to the bottom flange, may be formed so that its major surfaces are perpendicular to the bottom flange of the clip. A shelf clip constructed in this manner is illustrated in Fig. 4 and the assembly of such a clip with the other portions of the merchandise display assembly is fragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing, the same reference numerals utilized in Figs. 2 and 3 being utilized in Figs. 4 and 5, where appropriate, with the suffix a added thereto. More particularly, the modified shelf clip 50a is provided with flanges 52a and 54a interconnected by a body 56a,'the flanges 52a and 54a being constructed and useful in the same manner as the flanges 52 and 54 described above, and the body 56a of the clip being substantially the same as the body 56 above. The projection 60a, however, is struck from the body 560 in such a manner that the major surfaces thereof are disposed in planes substantially perpendicular to the flanges 52a, the projection 60a being also disposed substantially perpendicular to the body 56a. The upper edge 62 of the projection 60a is disposed at the same relative height as the upper surface of the projection 60 described above, whereby the edge 62 engages the material defining the upper edge of an associated slot 26 in a standard 20. The projection 60a is therefore operable to restrain an associated shelf 28 and prevents upward movement of the rear edge thereof with respect to the associated standard 20 and the associated support bracket 32. It will be seen, therefore, that the shelf clip 50a operates substantially in the same manner as the clip 50 described above.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a relatively inexpensive display assembly which may be very quickly assembled and disassembled or rearranged. The various shelves may be interchanged and rearranged at will without the use of screws or bolts of any kind and without the use of any fasteners that might deface the shelves. In each disposition of the shelves the shelves are firmly anchored in place so that there is no tendency for the forward edge of a shelf to be tilted downwardly regardless of the fact that a heavy load may be placed on the forward portion of the shelf forwardly of the forward end of the support brackets 32. For this reason, the support brackets 32 may be relatively short with respect to the width or depth of the shelves, thereby reducing the cost of the brackets 32, and brackets of a relatively short uniform length may be used with relatively deep as well as relatively shallow shelves. This, it will be understood, very materially reduces the manufacturing cost of the display assemblies and reduces the expense to the shop or store owner.

The foregoing description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood to be intended thereby, for it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made in the present invention within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A merchandise display assembly comprising, a pair of upright laterally spaced-apart standards, each of said standards having at least one row of vertically aligned openings provided in its forward face, a shelf bracket for each of said standards, each bracket having an ear thereon removably hooked over the lower edge of a predetermined one of the openings of the associated standard for supporting said bracket thereon, a shelf extending between and resting upon said shelf brackets, and a removable shelf clip for each of said shelf brackets, each of said shelf clips including means extending into and occupying the upper portion of the opening over the lower edge of which said ear of the associated shelf bracket is hooked and means engaging the rear edge of said shelf to hold said shelf in fixed position relative to said support brackets.

2. A merchandise display assembly comprising, a pair of upright laterally spaced-apart standards, each of said standards having at least one row of vertically aligned openings provided in its forward face, a shelf, a shelf receiving support bracket for each of said standards, each bracket having ears thereon removably hooked over the respective lower edges of selected ones of said openings for supporting said shelf upon the associated standard, and a shelf clip disposed adjacent each bracket and including means extending into one of said selected openings. to limit upward movement of said clip and means engaging the rear edge of said shelf to hold said shelf in a fixed position relative to said support bracket.

3. A merchandise display assembly comprising, a pair of, upright laterally spaced-apart standards each having at least one row of vertically aligned openings provided in its forward face, a shelf, a shelf receiving support bracket for each of said standards, each bracket having ears thereon removably hooked over the respective lower edges of selected .ones of said openings for supporting said shelf upon the associated standard, and a shelf clip disposed adjacent each bracket, said clip including a pair of spaced-apart flanges gripping the rear edge of said shelf therebetween and an integral projection extending therefrom and into one of said selected openings and engaging the upper edge thereof to limit upward movement of said clip and said shelf with respect to said standard.

4. A merchandise display assembly comprising, a selfsupporting structure adapted to rest upon a floor and including a pair of upright spaced-apart standards each having at least one row of vertically aligned openings provided in its forward face, a shelf, a shelf receiving support bracket for each of said standards, each bracket having ears thereon removably hooked over the respective lower edges of selected ones of said openings for supporting said shelf upon the associated standard, said bracket at the end thereof opposite said ears having a hook-shaped projection formed thereon adapted to extend upwardly and engage in an opening in the underside of said shelf, and a shelf clip disposed upon each bracket, said clip including a pair of spaced-apart flanges gripping the rear edge of said shelf therebetween and an integral projection extending therefrom and through the uppermost of said selected openings and engaging the upper edge thereof to limit upward movement of said clip and said shelf with respect to said standard.

5 A merchandise display assembly comprising, a selfsupporting structure adapted to rest upon a floor and including a pair of upright spaced-apart standards each having at least one row of vertically aligned openings provided in its forward face, a shelf, a shelf receiving support bracket for each of said standards, each bracket having ears thereon removably hooked over the respective lower edges of selected ones of said openings for supporting said shelf upon the associated standard, and a shelf clip disposed upon each bracket, said clip including a body having a pair of spaced-apart flanges thereon and extending therefrom to engage the rear edge of said shelf therebetween, the lowermost of said flanges lying upon said support bracket to support said clip and said shelf thereon, and a projection formed on said body and extending into the uppermost of said selected openings and engaging the upper edge thereof to limit upward movement of said clip to hold said shelf in a fixed position relative to said standard.

6. A merchandise display assembly comprising, a selfsupporting structure adapted to rest upon a floor and including a pair of upright spaced-apart standards each having at least one row of vertically aligned openings provided in its forward face, a shelf, a shelf receiving support bracket for each of said standards, each bracket having ears thereon removably hooked over the respective lower edges of selected ones of said openings for supporting said shelf upon the associated standard, and a shelf clip disposed upon each bracket, said clip including a body having a pair of spaced-apart flanges thereon and extending therefrom and resilient with respect to each other resiliently to engage the rear edge of said shelf therebetween, the lowermost of said flanges lying upon said support bracket to support said clip and said shelf thereon, and a projection mounted on said body and extending therefrom in a direction opposite to said flanges and into the uppermost of said selected openings and engaging the upper edge thereof to limit upward movement of said clip to hold said shelf in a fixed position relative to said standard.

7. A merchandise display assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said projection on said clip is struck from said body and has the plane thereof disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the lowermost of said flanges.

8. A merchandise display assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein .said projection on said clip is struck from said body and has the 'plane thereof disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the lowermost of 5 said flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 1,230,999 Crist June 26, 1917 1,504,423 Sherer Aug. 12, 1924 2,261,078 Shockey Oct. 28, 1941 2,833,420 Streater May 6, 1958 2,909,289 Laurie Oct. 20, 1959 

